Chapter 5

After about an hour the guest enjoy themselves with all the dishes and desserts. Princess Li Huifen takes a cup of wine and standing up. The king and queen looks at her with anticipation.

"Everyone!" She speaks up rising her cup.

"Thank you for coming and celebrating my birthday today. I raise this toast for everyone loves and contribution towards our city." She says and drink her wine. Everyone present also stands up and raise their cup.

"Long live your grace!" They says before drinking their wine.

All the crowds sit back continue their talks after that. Princess Li Huifen takes a walk down the stage and heading straight to Xiaoyu.

"Prince Yixian. It's a pleasure seeing you here." Princess Li Huifen greets him. Seeing the crowd around starts to stand up to bow, Princess Li Huifen quickly asks them to not mind her and continue eating. With that they continue sits back and enjoy the dinner.

"Your grace, I thought you already forgot about me." Xiaoyu replies. Princess Li Huifen chuckles and takes a seat beside Xiaoyu.

"How can I easily forget you. Both of your surprise today really impressed me." Princess Li Huifen smile inwardly.

"I'm glad you like it." Xiaoyu drinks the wine.

"If you're not rushing back to Yinhui, how about you stay here for awhile." Princess Li Huifen looks at Xiaoyu with all hopes in her eyes.

"This trip is really exhausting to me. I was about to ask for a stay here also. Hahaha." Xiaoyu replies.

"Then, it's a deal. You will stay here for a couple of weeks." Princess Li Huifen smile joyously.

"Your grace, this is my friend that I met while being here. Yizhan." Xiaoyu appoint his hand towards Yizhan. Yizhan bows to the princess as a sign of respect.

"Nice to meet you, Yizhan." Princess Li Huifen nods her head.

"Since I about to stay here, it's might be too awkward to stay on my own. I decides to invite you with me." Xiaoyu puts on a smile while looking at Yizhan.

"Of course you can. I'll prepare two chamber for both of you." Princess Li Huifen interrupt.

"If that's so, I'll bring my bag from the tavern in here." Yizhan replies.

"Well said. I'm gonna tell my father about this and ask the servant to prepare them for you." Princess Li Huifen gets up and walk back to the stage.

"Yizhan, who's the one sit with you? Don't want to introduce him to me?" Xiaoyu looks at Qin Zheng.

"Ahh, I'm sorry Prince Yixian. I forget to introduce myself. I'm Qin Zheng." Qin Zheng says and bow respectfully.

"No need to be so polite. Since you're Yizhan's friend, just call me Xiaoyu." Xiaoyu stand up while holding a jar of wine. He plans to take a breather outside.

"Sure Xiaoyu." Qin Zheng reply.

"Where's you going?" Yizhan asks.

"Take a walk. Wanna come?" Xiaoyu looks at him.

Yizhan stand up and nod his head. Xiaoyu smiles and walk along him to the outside of the hall leaving Qin Zheng behinds.

....................

They walks around the garden near the hall that's fill with lantern and flowers. There's also a small pond in the middle of it.

"Why you comes with me?" Xiaoyu asks.

"Take a walk." Yizhan replies.

"You don't have more questions?" Xiaoyu stares at the stars on the sky.

"I do. But I won't ask." Yizhan look at him.

"That's great. Because I also don't want to answer." Xiaoyu looks at him. For a moment, they both looks at each other straight.

"Why you're here?" Xiaoyu takes a look on the ground. Avoiding Yizhan's gaze since his eyes seeing to find every answer on his face.

"The immortal." Yizhan makes his answer short.

"Do you know about it?" He continues.

"I know but also don't." Xiaoyu replies. Yizhan ponder for a moment before finally understand that answer.

"I understand." Yizhan replies.

"Better ask the princess yourself." Xiaoyu looks back at the hall. Most of the guest starts to excuses themselves.

"Do you need my help?" Xiaoyu continues.

"Perhaps I do." Yizhan take a deep breath. Xiaoyu drink the wine from the jar he brings.

"Consider it's done." He said before continue drinking his wine.

After a while, Xiaoyu sees Qin Zheng walks out of the hall. Finding a way to other side of the castle.

"Qin Zheng!" Xiaoyu calls him out.

"Ouh, Xiaoyu!" Qin Zheng walks to him.

"Are you going back already?" Xiaoyu asks.

"I wanna go to the armory." He answers.

"The guards take my sword to the armory, so I want to get it back." He continues.

"Then let's go together. I bring you there." Xiaoyu taps on Qin Zheng shoulder.

They walks to the west side of the castle where's the armory locates. Yizhan casually follow them too.

"Prince Yixian." The guard that takes care of the armory greets him.

"My friend wants to take back his sword. Hope you can lead the way." Xiaoyu says.

"Sure, come with me." The guards get inside followed by Qin Zheng.

As Xiaoyu want to steps inside, Yixian stops him.

"Why?" Xiaoyu turn back and look at him.

"Wait." Yizhan stares inside the armory. Xiaoyu smile inwardly and decides to stay outside.

After a while, Qin Zheng walks outside with a sword in his hand.

"I got it! Let's go." He says and walk ahead. The three of them walks out of the castle and head to a tavern to gets Yizhan's stuff.

After a few walks outside of the castle, Yizhan stop Qin Zheng and grab his sword.

"What's wrong Yizhan?" Qin Zheng ask while seeing Yizhan trying to unleash the sword.

"It's a spiritual sword. Only I can unleash it." Qin Zheng grabs back his sword and unleash it. Soon after, a black smokes start to appear and spread in the air.

"Watch out! It's a demonic mist." Yizhan takes a few steps back and summon his guqin. He run his finger on the string and strikes the black smokes. After a strike, the black smokes starts to dissipate and evaporates into the air. Xiaoyu quickly run over to Qin Zheng and catch him from fall. He hold Qin Zheng pulse and quickly hit his acupuncture points at his heart and head to avoid the demonic mist from spreading.

"How's he?" Yizhan asks.

"Not good. He sniff a lot." Xiaoyu reply. He then put Qin Zheng arm on his shoulder and leap to the air, tries to bring him back to the tavern as soon as possible. Yizhan quickly follows him from behind.

................

*Tavern*

Xiaoyu lays Qin Zheng on the bed. He's now completely unconscious.

"The mist travel with his airing system and diffuse with his blood. We need to draw his blood." Xiaoyu explains.

"Anything you need?" Yizhan ask.

Xiaoyu ponder for a moment, the only way to draw out his blood is by using spiritual power. Since he's not a human, his spiritual power would be different with them. Either it's harmless or not, he can be sure since he never treats a human before.

"Can you do it?" Xiaoyu look at Yizhan.

"I'm not sure." Yizhan bites his lip. He's mostly practice martial arts and spells. In any case of injury, their family always have medician.

"It's okay. I need a bowl and your spiritual power." Xiaoyu once again feels Qin Zheng pulse.

After a few minutes, Yizhan back with a bowl. He sits behind Xiaoyu, and starts to move his hand. He touches Xiaoyu's shoulder lightly with his forefinger and middle finger and giving him some of his spiritual power. Xiaoyu takes the bowl and place it on his laps. He concentration all of the spiritual power from Yizhan within his finger and touch the pulse of Qin Zheng on his neck. He lets the spiritual power run through Qin Zheng's vein and flow it out through the tip of Qin Zheng's finger. After a while, a black color of blood starts to flow out and drip inside the bowl. They continue the treatment until the blood turns back to normal.

"He's fine now." Xiaoyu says after seeing the last drop of blood is red in color. Yizhan takes a deep breath and stabilize his spiritual power.

"You good?" Xiaoyu asks him. Qin Zheng is still unconscious.

"I'm fine." Yizhan replies.

"You notices it since earlier right." Xiaoyu looks at him. Yizhan nods.

"The air inside the armory is strange. But, I'm can't be sure." Yizhan explain.

"Guess we gonna spend a few weeks to investigate that." Xiaoyu smiles.

"Qin Zheng's sword is spiritual. This kind of sword is actually hard to be harm by demonic breath and spells unless the demon that doing this has cultivates for a few hundred years. 300 years or more." Xiaoyu says.

"Muxiang lacks of cultivator. I'm afraid there's more people involves. This demonic mist cannot cause death by they can harms people's mind and makes them extremely agitates." Xiaoyu continues.

"What's worst could happen?" Yizhan asks.

"Havoc. They might kill others people casually." Xiaoyu takes a deep breath before continue.

"I bet you wouldn't sit still right. So, here's the plan. We're gonna go back to the castle after this. Let's have a little rests. Your guqin can calms people's mind and actually erase the demonic mist. Tomorrow morning, you need to plays your guqin where's the whole city could hear it. Any idea?"

"There's a watch tower in the middle of town." Yizhan answers.

"That's will do. As for the rest, we should just find the demon." Xiaoyu wraps up their plan.

"You guys, what happened?" Qin Zheng squint his eyes a little trying to stay sober.

"You just being poisoned." Xiaoyu look at him.

"It's bad?" Qin Zheng ask, worries.

"You..." Yizhan try to interrupt but Xiaoyu cut him off.

"Really bad." Xiaoyu hold his laugh.

"How much time do I have left?" Qin Zheng starts to tears up. Yizhan look at him pitifully.

"About a few days." Xiaoyu continues to tease him.

"Huahhhh!!! What should I do? I just reach third phase of cultivation and this already happens to me. I haven't meet my wife. I never go out of this city yet. How unlucky I am. Yizhan, after I dead, can you bring my ashes to Yuan City. I just want to breathe the airs there for once. Xiaoyu.... " Qin Zheng rambling with his eyes all teary.

"You're not gonna dies." Xiaoyu says.

"Xiaoyu you must find me a wife..." Qin Zheng still rambling before realizing.

"Wait, what?" He looks at Xiaoyu and Xiaoyu bursts out laughing.

"You have a dead wishes? You mess up with me." Qin Zheng mad.

"Wait, are you agitates now? The mist must be still inside." Xiaoyu turns serious.

"You... stop jokes around." Qin Zheng quickly sits up.

"What kind of prince pulls pranks on others." He continues.

"It's me." Xiaoyu laugh.

"Everyone, I'm serious right now. What's actually happening?" Qin Zheng looks at both of them. Xiaoyu looks at Yizhan before telling Qin Zheng everything including their plan.

"Then, what should I do?" Qin Zheng asks.

"You can walk me around the city." Xiaoyu replies.

"Isn't too risky to let Yizhan alone. Besides, we will alerts the enemy like this." Qin Zheng worries. It's his first tims encounter demons after all.

"Then, what's your plan?" Yizhan asks.

"You guys are not from here. Muxiang City is not the same as other city. Most cultivator here cultivates in secret. The army forces is the strongest here." Qin Zheng licks his lips.

"There's rules before state that the cultivator will be banishes from the city if they got caught. That's why most people who would likes to cultivates will migrate." He continues.

"We can't fight them openly. The only ways is to find the demon secretly and kill him. We can't expose our identity." He looks at them both.

"How about the demonic mist?" Yizhan asks.

"Since it's not harming life, I guess we can slide it off. Besides as I said, the army here's is strong. Even there's a commotion, the guard will surely breaks them off before anything happens. That's how we remain in peace before." Qin Zheng replies.

"The armies and guards might be infected too." Xiaoyu adding his point.

"Okay, let's see how this demonic mist works tomorrow. If it's not that vulnerable, we slide it off. If it indeed harmful, we need another plans." Xiaoyu continues. Both of them agree with it.

"Princess Li Huifen probably gonna takes me out for tour tomorrow. So, both of you can looks out for any problems. I and Yizhan gonna investigate the source when we are inside the castle." Xiaoyu says.

"Well, then good luck to all." Qin Zheng smiles.

.................

Xiaoyu walks to the castle with Yizhan. It's already late at night but then he saw a girl in white dress in front of the castle entrance with 4 others people in servant robe.

"Prince Yixian! I thought you change your mind and stay outside." Princess Li Huifen walks to Xiaoyu in haste.

"Greetings your grace. I have some others thing to handle outside. Pardon me for no telling you earlier." Xiaoyu smiles.

"It's fine. I just worries about your safety. Come inside, I bring both of you to your chamber." Princess Li Huifen heads inside. All of her servant quickly follows her.

After a few minutes of walking, they arrive at the west side of castle. Here's are mostly locates the chamber for each resident here. Then, they enter a place calls Ping An Chamber where's locates 2 large room inside. The yard also spacious with a small garden and lantern. There's also a sakura tree in the middle of the garden.

"Here's your chamber. My chamber are just beside this. You can comes to my room if you need anything or you guys can just ask for my servant." Princess Li Huifen smiles.

"Hei Yu, Zhu Shi, both of you will attend to Prince Yixian and Yizhan if they need anything. Okay?" Princess Li Huifen continues.

"Thank you so much your grace." Xiaoyu bows.

"There's no need any courtesy between us. You guys can just call me Huifen." Princess Li Huifen keep smiling.

"Then, you can just call me Yixian too." Xiaoyu replies.

"Okay. Yixian, Yizhan have a good sleep. I'll bring you around the town tomorrow." Princess Li Huifen bows before leaving with her servant.

"Prince Yixian, Sir Yizhan, I am Hei Yu and this is Zhu Shi. You can call us if you need anything." Hei Yu and Zhu Shi bow to them both.

"Got it. It's already late. There's nothing we need now. You can get back to rest too. Thank you." Xiaoyu replies. Both of them bow before leaving the chamber.

"Now only both of us left. Which room you want?" Xiaoyu looks at Yizhan.

"Anything is fine." Yizhan replies.

"Then I takes this one." Xiaoyu says while pointing on his right side. Yizhan nods before going to the left side room.

......................

Xiaoyu takes a look around his room. He open the window that facing Yizhan room. Then, he takes a seat on the side chair. He watches Yizhan's room through the window. After a while, he sees that the room in front are already dark giving that Yizhan already went to his bed.

Xiaoyu open a window at the back and silently jump through it. He leaps on the roof and run off to the outside of the castle passing through the guards without making any noise. Once he outside, he gets into one of the unoccupied shops and sits on the ground. He close his eyes and take a deep breath before biting his finger. He squeezes out some blood from his finger and draw an array on the ground. He place his palm at the center of the array and close his eye. A few seconds later, he opens his eyes and his eyeball turns reds while a huge wave of red smokes comes out of the array and dissipate into the ground. He place a jar at the center of the array then and wait. After a few minutes, the demonic mist starts to fill inside the jar. Xiaoyu pick it up and blow inside it. Then, all the demonic mist disappear.

"Next is to find the imposters." He whispers to himself and smirks. He looks back at his finger and the wound starts to heal up while the array slowly disappear.

..............

*Ping An Chamber*

Yizhan wear his outer robe after taking his bath. It's currently 6 in the morning. He open a window that facing Xiaoyu's room. He looks through the window and sees that the window of Xiaoyu's room also opens. He open the door and walks to Xiaoyu's room.

"Xiaoyu?" Yizhan call him out but no answer. Then, he slowly opens the door but then he quickly turns his back after seeing what in front of him. Xiaoyu just sleep with his undergarments on. He close his eyes and close the window. After that, he hears someone knocking on the door. He walks and open it a little before squeeze his body outside.

"Huh? Is this your room Sir Yizhan? I'm sorry. Princess wants me to fill in Prince Yixian tub. So I..." Zhu Shi lowers her head after seeing that Yizhan only wear his outer robe. Since the color is white, it's kinda see through. Yizhan notices that and quickly cover his body.

"No you're right. This is Xia... ermm, Yixian room. I'll help you fill his tub. You just leave the water here." Yizhan tells her before gets back inside Xiaoyu's room. For 22 years old of living, this is the most embarrassing moment in his life. He picks up Xiaoyu outer robes and put it on.

"Sir Yizhan, I put 4 buckets of water here. Is it enough?" Yizhan walks to the door and open it slightly.

"It's enough. Thank you." Yizhan smiles. Zhi Shu face kinda blush a little.

"Ermm, do you need me to fill your tub also?" Zhi Shu asks.

"No need." Yizhan replies. He then takes out one of his hand and pull the bucket inside one by one while holding the door from opening. Then, he close the door and brings all the bucket to the tub and fill it in. He looks at Xiaoyu who still sleeping and throw the blanket on the floor to him. Startled by that, Xiaoyu opens his eyes slightly.

"Who's that?" He asks.

"It's me." Yizhan replies.

"Yizhan? Why you're here?" Xiaoyu sits up and throw off the blanket from him. Yizhan quickly turn away.

"Why you're wearing my robe?" He continues asking.

"I... I already prepares your bath. Go take it quick." Yizhan says.

"But, you... why you're here?"

"Just go take your bath." Yizhan stress his voice.

"Alright then." Xiaoyu walks to the tub and submerged his whole body in it.

"Next time, can't you wear more clothes when sleeping?" Yizhan said that kinda loud but Xiaoyu don't here anything since his head is fully underwater. Yizhan open the door and walks back to his room.

.................

*Princess Li Huifen Chamber*

Li Huifen takes a final looks on her appearance in front of the mirror. Zhu Shi walks inside with a flush red face.

"Have you done fill up Yixian tub?" Li Huifen asks while still looking at the mirror.

"Yes, your grace." She answers a lit bit stutter.

"That's good. Prepare the carriage then. We'll be leaving after breakfast." Li Huifen turns back and look at her.

"Your grace, do you really likes Prince Yixian?" Zhu Shi asks.

"Well, I do have a crush on him. He so kind and handsome." Li Huifen smiles.

"Then what if he don't like girl?" Zhu Shi looks on the ground.

"Don't like girl? What do you mean by that?" Li Huifen walks to her.

"No... I just think he and Yizhan kind a..." Zhu Shi doesn't know how to continue her words.

"Kinda... what? They're friend. Yixian told me that Yizhan once help him and they becomes friend." Li Huifen answers.

"Is that so?" Zhu Shi scratch her head.

"Of course. Now, go. Prepare the carriage." Li Huifen walks out of the room to the dining table outside.

...............

*Ping An Chamber*

"Yizhan! Are you ready yet? Hei Yu already here waiting for us." Xiaoyu call him out while adjusting his belt. He already wait outside with Hei Yu. Yizhan open the door of his room and walk outside. He clear his throat before walking to them.

"Let's go!" Xiaoyu walks ahead.

.................

*Princess Li Huifen Chamber*

A carriage already wait in front. Xiaoyu walks with Yizhan and waits for Li Huifen to comes out.

"You guys are already here? I'm sorry I'm late." Li Huifen walks in hurry toward them.

"It's okay. We just got here." Xiaoyu replies. Li Huifen smiles and gets on the carriage with the help of her servant. Xiaoyu follow her after.

"Eik, Yizhan not coming with us?" Li Huifen asks when she sees that Yizhan doesn't get inside the carriage.

"Yizhan says that he will go out with Qin Zheng today. So, he excuse for today." Xiaoyu answers.

"Sure, then let's go." Li Huifen says to the servant outside. They starts to move out of the castle.

...................

"Yizhan! Here!" Qin Zheng shout and calls for Yizhan as soon as he sees Yizhan out of the castle.

Yizhan walks to Qin Zheng while looking around.

"Any troubles yet?" Yizhan asks.

"I heard nothing." Qin Zheng replies.

"Well, it's better stay that way." He walks on to proceed with their plan today.

....................

Li Huifen looks at Xiaoyu with smiles. She just showing all of the district in the city and shows which restaurant that serve the best food. They have a great talk in a while.

"Yixian, what do you think of this city?" Li Huifen looks out of the window.

"It's great. Calm and peace. Good city for retreat." Xiaoyu looks at her.

"I agree." She smiles.

"This district may seems calm now. But, we celebrate every festival here. Chinese New Year and so on." Li Huifen explain.

"Guess I have to stay here longer to see the festival." Xiaoyu looks around. His eyes then spot a guy that literally bully a poor man in public.

"Who is he?" Xiaoyu asks.

"Hurm? Oh him. Don't mind him. He always stir up trouble whenever he go." Li Huifen sigh.

"Why don't anyone stop him. Any guards?" Xiaoyu ask in concern.

"They don't dare to provokes him. His father is one of my dad loyal minister. My dad favor his father and lot. His father is just tired of him and ignore him most of the time. But, once he want anything or something, his father just give it away." Li Huifen pause her words.

"The last time an official try to stop him. That official get banish out of the city, lost all his merits and job. His family also been chase out of city by him." Li Huifen sigh.

"What a nuisance." Xiaoyu looks at him.

"Can you stop here for awhile?" Xiaoyu asks.

"I don't think it's proper for you to involve. He's a lunatic." Li Huifen tries to stop him.

"It's okay. You stay here. I won't get involve, just want some sightseeing." Xiaoyu smiles before get out of the carriage.

He walks at the roadside and pretend to buy anything at the stall nearby. He smirks and sneakily walks behind him and brush off his back. At instant, he walks past all the people and get back inside the carriage.

"Now the show is begin." Xiaoyu smiles.

"What you've done?" Li Huifen asks her.

"Nothing, just take a good look at him." He throws his gaze outside and see that guy getting flustered for a moment.

"What's his name btw?" Xiaoyu asks.

"Wen Beijin. His dad is Wen Goufang." Li Huifen answers.

"There's nothing more to see here. Let's go." Xiaoyu says and they start moving again.

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